President Clinton fulfilled his wish for a bipartisan Cabinet by appointing Republican William S. Cohen to head the Pentagon. The former senator from Maine is anything but a yes-man. In Congress, he demonstrated an independent streak, criticizing some of the administration's defense policies, including the presence of U.S. troops in Bosnia. But he also criticized pet GOP defense projects, including the B-2 stealth bomber. As secretary, Cohen's most critical challenges include reconfiguring the post-Cold War military and responding to the sexual harassment and assault charges that have plagued the armed services.

Of note: Cohen, the 20th U.S. secretary of Defense, has written or co-written eight books, including two books of poetry, three novels and three works of nonfiction. He is the first Republican politician to serve a Democratic president as secretary of Defense.